How to Leave Your Job to Become a Virtual Assistant

Are you thinking of leaving your employment to become a Virtual Assistant? Perhaps you have been made redundant and are looking for a flexible career that finally allows you to say goodbye to being an employee.

Many people procrastinate because they do not know where to start or how to find clients. You might be worried about financial security or whether you can truly match your current salary. You may even wonder if this is a viable, sustainable business or if you should just stay put in your comfort zone.

There is a lot to consider before making the leap. However, remember that fortune favours the brave. Napoleon Hill, author of Think and Grow Rich, stated that what the mind can conceive and believe, it can achieve.

You likely have plenty of questions and have done your research, yet you are hesitating due to the “what if” factor. This is a normal reaction to the unknown. To move forward, you need honest, realistic advice from an expert. Follow the leaders, not the followers.

If you are certain this is the path you want to take, do not be complacent enough to think you must do it alone. You want to do this right the first time. Why make costly mistakes or take years to achieve your goals when you can access proven guidance? You have come to the right place.

Before you make the transition

Before you hand in your notice, you must get clear on your “why”.

• What do you actually want from this business?

• Is it freedom, flexibility, or simply being fed up with the commute?

• What happens if you take charge and work with people you actually enjoy?

• Conversely, if you stay where you are, what stays the same and what opportunities will you miss?

Focusing on what you want and what you no longer tolerate helps define your vision. You also need to be brutally honest about your finances. What do you need to earn? Are you willing to make sacrifices and truly commit?

It is not always easy, but it can be simple

I am not going to tell you that setting up a business while working a day job is easy. It requires a serious commitment. You cannot come home after a long day and decide you “cannot be bothered” until the weekend.

You will have to make sacrifices. I would rather tell you the truth than fluff it up and have you come back to me later saying, “Amanda, this is hard work.”

However, the process itself is simple. By following a proven model and securing relevant support, there is no reason you cannot make the transition.

The Golden Rule: Financial Buffer

Before you leave your job, ensure you have saved enough money to sustain your living costs. I suggest having enough to cover your basic essentials for at least three to six months – depending on your feelings around risk. I call this your “pot of gold”.

Why? Because if you leave without a safety net, you will operate from a place of desperation. There is nothing worse than the smell of “Eau de Desperation” on a new business owner. A buffer allows you to focus on building your business and enjoying the journey without the crushing weight of unpaid bills. It’s worth remembering if you get some clients before you leave the day job, these clients will continue with you and so you shouldn’t need to eat into your saved buffer!

Defining your terms

How many hours you work is entirely up to you. Whether it is 10 hours or 30, the flexibility is yours. You might be a parent navigating school runs or someone approaching retirement who wants to keep their mind active.

Some become VAs to break through the career ceiling. In employment, you might be limited by a lack of specific degrees or corporate hierarchy. As a VA, the sky is the limit for your earning potential and professional growth.

How and when will you work?

Planning is the only way to fit this into a busy life. Create a timetable for your business and stick to it.

You can start developing your business while still employed, but a word of warning: never use your employer’s time or equipment. It likely breaches company policy and creates confidentiality risks. Invest in your own laptop. Use your lunch breaks or evenings in a cafe to do what needs to be done. Others have done it before you, and you can too.  You might find it useful to read this blog about setting up a VA business while still employed – it addresses the concerns most employers have. 

Create a plan and take action

I have worked with many clients who commuted for hours and still found time for their business in the evening because they wanted it badly enough.

You must believe in yourself and take action. If you simply tell yourself you will do “a few hours” after dinner, it rarely happens. Dinner, TV, and tiredness will get in the way.

Be strict. If you decide that Monday, Wednesday, and Friday between 7:00 pm and 9:00 pm are for your business, then those hours are non-negotiable. Use that time for networking, meeting prospective clients, or completing fee-earning work.

If you have questions about setting up your VA business, definitely watch our free training webinar and then download our VA Start Up Checklist and Workbook which answers the most common queries.